John and Christine's Adventures: May 11th through May 17th:

May 11^th through May 17^th: Before I start the week I need to add something about last Friday. While President De Hoyos was in the session, a couple came with a few family names to be baptized. President Atkinson has told us to always try and accommodate people with family names, even if we are not doing baptisms at that moment. So, President Pena tried to see if we could find enough workers to do their names. He asked me if I would come and help. I saw this as the opportunity I needed to get baptized for my uncle, Bill Prigge. The man baptized his wife and then I baptized him and then he baptized me for my Uncle Bill. He is the husband of my dad’s sister Doris. He is the last of the spouses of my Norman aunties to have their work done. After we got done, we all went to initiatory and did that part of their work. It was really special to do the work for someone I knew when he was alive. Monday I wanted to cook, so I made barbequed pulled pork sandwiches and baked beans. We had everyone over for dinner and then had a family home evening at the Atkinson’s.

Lucero, Laura and Sandra washing dishes after dinner Monday night.

Bobbett, mom, Cathy and Jan relaxing after dinner Monday night.

President Atkinson was a vice president of Franklin-Covey and he taught us about goal setting and planning. Tuesday we had presidency meeting and then mom and I went downtown and checked into a bed and breakfast, “La casa de mis recuedos”, the house of my memories. What a charming and fun house. President and Sister Atkinson gave Chris a nights stay at this B and B for her birthday and then let us play hooky for a day.

The courtyard outside of our room.

The sink was in the entry room. Notice the mirror and the pounded tin on the door.

We loved this painting of the Pineapple dance.

Another dance themed painting in our bedroom.

We felt a little guilty but, by Wednesday morning we did not want to go back to work. It was so fun to walk around the city and relax with absolutely nothing we had to do. Of course, we had to visit mom’s favorite book store and she found a novel about Cortez and the conquest of Mexico. We had a great break and President Atkinson really knows how to spoil us.

I take pictures of all the cool entryways I come across as we walk around town.

This is a church we came across and had not visited. We have been here a year and there are still about 20 churches we have not visited in the city.

Most of the old decorated walls were painted over.

Mom waiting for breakfast Wednesday morning. This B & B was so charming.

Mom says she wants an orange wall someday in our house.

Our breakfast table.

Egg omelet with squash blossoms on top with a green salsa.
Yum, yum.

The courtyard outside of the dinning room.

The Palace Museum.

This mural tells the story of Mexico.

Looking out the window looking north from the second story of the Palace Museum.

The church across the street from the museum.

Looking out the window looking south from the second story of the Palace Museum.

There are three courtyards in the middle of this building.

This mural tells the story of the indigenous peoples of Mexico.

The courtyard of another church.

The Jacaranda are starting to bloom.

Selfie as we stopped to rest.

This courtyard was surrounded by shops.

What beauty there is in just one flower.

Wednesday we got home about 1 PM and made lunch and then spent the evening in the temple. I went on a session and did the endowment for my uncle Bill. Now all I have to do is seal Doris and Bill together. I am trying to decide if I want to be the sealer or represent Bill. Thursday we did not have a group coming so we had another special session for the Relief Society. The sisters always come through again and we had a full session. Friday we had just one bus come, but they stayed till the lights were turned out. Saturday was a different story, 5 buses arrived, 3 early so we started at 5:00am and then two arrived about 7:30am. They all left about 2:00pm and then we had 10 people from Puebla come for the sealing of a young couple. In the evening, President Atkinson and I did a training session for the Ward Council of one of the wards in the Amapolas stake. It is fun to be with him and have an opportunity to teach along-side this great servant of the Lord. Sunday we went to church at El Bosque ward and then in the afternoon we had a coordinators meeting.

These are the shift coordinators who came to the meeting Sunday.

We talked to all the kids in Utah. They were together for dinner at James’ home. It is so nice that they get together once a month. We wished we could have been with them. But Facetime is a great blessing. We also got to talk to Ginny in LA and Sam in Mexico City. The weeks are flying by and we are having some great experiences that are shaping our lives and changing our nature. That is the point, is it not?